Her current task is merely to assist Nohara Rin with perfect Jinchuriki training. She doesn't need to consider anything beyond that.

"How's Rin doing?"

Hakushi asked bluntly.

There was only one reason for Fumiko to seek him out, and that was Rin's progress in perfect Jinchuriki training.

"The Tailed Beast's power is increasing progressively. It's now at a critical stage."

Fumiko answered truthfully.

"So, it's still a standoff, is it?"

"Yes."

"It seems that perfect Jinchuriki training is even more difficult than imagined."

Yagura, who found his own way to becoming a perfect Jinchuriki, once said that he too spent a long time before gaining the Three-tailed's approval and becoming a perfect Jinchuriki.

Strength and recognition are both indispensable.

And neither of these things is easy to achieve.

Moreover, the Tailed Beasts' level of revulsion towards humans is so intense, they could vent about it for ten days and nights.

Initially, being 'freely given' to the Great Ninja Villages by the First Hokage, Senju Hashirama, like commodities was humiliating enough for the Tailed Beasts' pride.

Since then, the Tailed Beasts' disdain and hatred for humans reached a peak.

Over the decades, only Hidden Cloud's Killer Bee and now the Fourth Mizukage Yagura in the Hidden Mist have become perfect Jinchuriki and reconciled with their Tailed Beasts.

Konoha's first two Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Mito and Uzumaki Kushina, wanted to make amends with the Nine-tailed, but the results were predictable.

If one cannot become a perfect Jinchuriki, it's essentially a waste of Tailed Beast resources, and sometimes even burdens the Ninja Village.

"Obito and I can only suppress the Tailed Beast Chakra that leaks out when Rin is training. In these matters, it ultimately depends on Rin herself."

Fumiko understood this well.

When Rin enters her spiritual space for perfect Jinchuriki training, the Tailed Beast Chakra will envelop her, transforming her into the berserk Tailed Beast.

The greater the berserk state, the more perilous the battles Rin faces.

Another point is that Rin's combat capabilities are very weak.

Killer Bee from Hidden Cloud was already a genius ninja of the Hidden Cloud Village before becoming a Jinchuriki. During his perfect Jinchuriki training, he honed his strength and fought with high morale.

There's no need to mention Fourth Mizukage Yagura, who, even before becoming a Jinchuriki, was the top Elite Jonin in the Hidden Mist Village, surpassing any member of the Seven-swords Ninja, and was nearly the strongest ninja in the Hidden Mist, second only to the Third Mizukage.

In contrast, Rin's combat abilities are still too immature, focusing mostly on support-type Ninja Techniques.

Even if she has initially mastered the Immortal Technique, her learning is primarily medical ninjutsu.

Facing a Tailed Beast alone in the spiritual space puts her at a disadvantage.

"In any case, do your best. If there's anything you need, feel free to ask."

"There's nothing for now; I don't think we need additional tools for assistance."

"Indeed, then let it be. Thank you for your hard work."

Hakushi nodded. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

"It's what I should do... Speaking of which, has the plan for the Land of Bear successfully commenced?"

Now, the Uzumaki Clan has completely integrated into the Land of Demons' system.

Every reborn member of the Uzumaki Clan knows the miserable fate of being weak.

In this world, everything is illusory. Only the power in one's hands is tangible.

If the Uzumaki Clan had possessed the same fearsome power as Konoha, the Land of Whirlpools would not have been annihilated, and their sealing technique literature wouldn't have been plundered by outsiders.

Even their trusted ally, Konoha, can be said to have stood by idly.

After all, the Land of Whirlpools was a neighbor of the Land of Fire, falling right under Konoha's nose.

What role Konoha played in this incident is a bitter point for every Uzumaki Clan member, something they fear to think too deeply about, as it is quite terrifying upon reflection.

"So far, things have been going smoothly without major setbacks. As long as we can take Hidden Star Village, absorbing the Land of Bear will be no problem."

The challenge in the plan lies in completing this series of mergers without arousing the Five Great Nations' attention.

This was also the fundamental reason concluded in military meetings for starting with Hidden Star Village.

Gobbling up the Land of Bear in one go is unrealistic. Slowly nibbling away is the correct approach.

For this reason, official maneuvers from the Daimyo of the Land of Bear are needed to escort their activities there.

Information disparity can be devastating in war.

"In that case, I extend my early congratulations."

"Let's hope so. This is our first action, and I don't want to pressure the members lurking in the Land of Bear too much."

Hakushi smiled slightly, accepting Fumiko's congratulations with equanimity.

◎

"This is troublesome now."

Akahoshi returned to his residence and briefly considered the current situation, feeling things had gone beyond his expectations.

His intention was to personally deal with the Third Hoshikage and fully control Hidden Star Village.

Yet, after meeting with a nameless ninja known as Akakage, mediated by the Daimyo of the Land of Bear, he realized the Daimyo seems to have other considerations.

However, breaking off with the Daimyo at this point is clearly unwise.

Even if he controls Hidden Star Village, he cannot afford to antagonize the power elite of the Land of Bear.

These individuals have limited military power, but they are not easily toppled.